Continuous bottle feed mechanism



March 1956 M. VAMVAKAS ET AL CONTINUOUS BOTTLE FEED MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1952 March 1956 M. VAMVAKAS ET AL CONTINUOUS BOTTLE FEED MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1952 NVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS March 1956 M. VAMVAKAS ET AL 2,738,366

I CONTINUOUS BOTTLE FEED MECHANISM Filed June 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

BYM2 QM 68 ATTORNEYS.

March 1956 M. VAMVAKAS ET AL CONTINUOUS BOTTLE FEED MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 2, 1952 INVENTORS. W 41% g 6%JJZZ ATTORNEYS.

2,738,866 CONTINUOUS BOTTLE FEED MECHANISM Michael Vamvakas, Maywood, and Chris C. Dungfelder, La Grange, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Barry-Wehmiller Machinery Company, St. Louis, Mo.

Application June 2, 1952, Serial NO. 291,256

17 Claims. (Cl. 198-25) This invention relates to a continuous bottle feed mechanism, and more particularly to a continuous bottle infeed mechanism for bottle washers, pasteurizers, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a continuous bottle feed mechanism whereby a bottle conditioning line may be operated continuously. Another object or the invention is to provide a bottle infeed mechanism for use with bottle washers, pasteurizers, etc., wherein bottles are received in an upright position and are fed horizontally into pockets provided in a continuously traveling bottle carrier. Still another object is to provide lifting fingers for moving bottles from a feed magazine, through a guide and partially into pockets provided in a continuously traveling bottle carrier while pusher fingers urge the bottles completely into the pockets While the carrier is continuously moving. It is a further object of this invention to provide a continuous bottle infeed mechanism having rotary lifting fingers for raising bottles upwardly from an infeed conveyor and through an arcuate guide while rotary pusher fingers nudge the bottles into pockets provided in the continuously moving carrier. Still a further object is to provide a plurality of substantially parallel bottle infeed units forming a bank of feeders, all operating together to continuously feed bottles into pockets provided by a bank of carriers traveling continuously. Yet a further object is to provide a bottle infeed mechanism in which the rapid oscillatory infeed cycle found in conventional bottle infeeds is replaced with a steady, even rotary infeed; thereby allowing a greater time for a given amount of bottle travel while at the same time permitting high speed machine operation and eliminating the usual bottle breakage, scuffing, marring, etc. Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

Our invention may be seen, in an illustrative embodiment, in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a broken side view showing the driving mechanism for our continuous bottle infeed; Fig. 2,, a

side view of our bottle feed mechanism taken from a point within the frame shown in Fig. 1 and looking in the same direction; Fig. 3, a spread out broken sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4, a broken sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Our continuous bottle feed mechanism is particularly suited for use with bottle conditioning lines such as are found in bottle washers, pasteurizers and the like, wherein a plurality of bottle feed units in parallel relation feed bottles into a bank of bottle carriers that carry the bottles through the various stations of a conditioning line. Such a bottle carrier providing a plurality of bottle-receiving pockets 11 mounted in spaced-apart relationship upon bearings and chain links 12 to permit pivotal movement of the pockets is shown in Fig. 1. The bottle carrier 10 is continuously moving and carries bottles that have been inserted into the pockets 11 through the conditioning lines. The conditioning line may consist of a compartmented tank such as defined by the wall lza. Bottle carriers of this type are well known in the art, and

atent .a detailed discussion of the structure is not thought neccssary.

The bottle carrier 10'is positioned interiorly of aside wall 13 partially defining the side of a bottle washer assembly. The bottle carrier drives a large carrier sprocket wheel 14 keyed upon a shaft 15. The shaft 15 extends outwardly through the side wall 13 and has keyed thereon a sprocket 16. The sprocket 16 is rotatably driven by the shaft 15, and the shaft is rotatably driven by the carrier 10 through the carrier sprocket 14. The

entire feed mechanism isdriven through the sprocket 16 in a manner subsequently described, and perfect alignment of the pockets with the feed mechanism is thereby provided since they are tied together as a unit.

A smaller sprocket 17 is driven by a link or sprocket chain 18 entrained between the sprocket 17 and the sprocket 16. An idler sprocket 19 engages the chain 18' parallel therewith. The flange 25 is equipped with four recesses 26 having positioned therein a ball bearing locking device 27. The ball bearings .27 substantially fill the recesses 26; however, the depth of the recesses isless I than the diameter of the balls and the balls project outwardly therefrom. Adjacent the recesses 26 and'aligned therewith, the flange 23 is equipped with cone-shaped recesses 28 receiving the portion of the balls 27 extending outwardly from the recesses 26. The two flanges 23 and 25 together with the recesses and the balls 27 provide a clutch permitting the flange 25 and sprocket 17 to rotate relative to the flange 23 in'the event the flange, or subsequently described mechanism which it drives, becomes jammed. At the same time the balls 27, in filling the recesses 26 and 28, normally lock the flanges 23 and 25 together and thereby permit the flange 23 to be rotatably driven by the sprocket 17. The clutch flange 25 has four recesses 26 equally spaced apart by to maintain pre cise timing of the drive gear 35, by means of a 2 to 1V ratio stepup, with the gear 47. This serves to rotate the shaft 48 one-half revolution to one-fourth revolution of the flange 23. After a disengagement of the clutch, the balls may drop into any one of the recesses to continue driving, after a jam has been cleared, in perfect timing.

The sprocket 17 is axially slidable upon the sleeve 22 as well as being rotatably mounted thereon, and a helical spring 29 positioned between and abutting washers 3t] normally urges the sprocket 17 and flange 25 formed integrally therewith toward the flange 23. The force exerted by the spring 29 may be adjusted by positioning the lock nuts 31 and 32 which are threadedly received upon threads provided on the end of the sleeve. 22. A set collar 33 holds the sleeve 22 and the assembly mounted thereon upon the stub shaft 24.

The flange 23 is mounted upon and pinned to the hub 34 of a spurv gear 35 which is rotatably mounted upon suitable bearings on the stub shaft 24. The stub shaft.

24 is pinned against rotary movement to a support collar 35 by a pin 36. The collar 35 is formed integrally with ahanger or bracket. 37 mounted upon the side wall 13 by cap screws 38. I The stub shaft 24 is equipped with an axially-extending passage 39 having outlets 40 communicating with the various moving parts and providing means for supplying lubricant thereto.

Normally, the chain 18 drives the sprocket 17 which in turn rotates the flange 23 and the gear 35 attached Patented Mar. 20, 1956- thereto through engagement of the balls 27 with the reasaszsaarzsrua "the event that the ear 35' or the mechanism that it drives becomes jammed, the sprocket 17 continues to .rotateand, in so .doing..the.,.bal;ls 27. move out o f the recesses 23 in the fian ge 23f The flange 25 and sprocket 17. are thereby moved laterally. against the ,force exertedbyr'the spring 2 9 .,and agmicr oswitch- A1 mounted adjacent the, .fian ge v25-is trippedjby .this later almovement. Themicro'switch 41-.is-in circuitwith the rpower..supply for thelmain. drivingv motor land .bieaksthe circuit when tripped. The entire .m,echanism is thereby .shut down before, damage to the parts, can occur. :After clearing the v jam whichmig ht have'lhecn ldue to -a broken bottle lpdgingonwedging mm transter guidesglhe clutch will automatically .r'-cngage in correct timing whenj. .the machineis again, started.

The gear. .35 drives an.idler-.-gear. 42 rotatably mounted upon. an axle 43 secured within a", support 44 against rotational movement bya pj nfis. The idler gear 42 is heldontheaxle43 by a setcollar 46. ,The idler gear 42 meshes with and drives a spurgear 47 looked upon a shaft {8,wl1ich is journaled upon bearings inasupport collar 49for rned integrally in the bracket 37. A sprocket 50 is rnountedupon the end of .theshaft 48 adjacent, the spur gear 4 7, and is driven in rotation by the rotation of the gear and the shaft 48. 'The spurgear- 47 and sprocket 50 may be locked upon the shaft .48 by ,any suitable means such as bykeying or pinning, etc. i i

[,The gear BS drives .a spur gear 51 mounted upona shaft'SZand,lockedthereto by, a pin 53. Thesha'ft 52 is rotatably-mounted within a support collar 54 formed integrally in' the bracket 37. The support collars or hubs 35.44, 49 and 54 all extend inwardly througbapertures providedin the side wall 13.

' Entrained about the'sprocket 50 is a link chain or sprocket chain SS-driving a sprocket 56 mounted. upon a feeder table shaft 57. A roller 58 is mountedupon the shaft 57 and drives a continuous belt 'orjconveyor 59 that brings bottles into the feeder mechanism. The driving and gear assembly so far described is all mounted .out-

side of the sidewall '13 withthe exception ofrthebottle carrier driving sprocket 14. The gears, etc.', supply all motionfor'the .various parts iofgour bottle, infeedrnechanism which will now bedescribed.

",The rotatably driven shaft 48 extends across the bottle infeed and is journaled within aibearing 60 on. the dead end or .idle side and bearing 49 on the driver side, Both bearings'are rigidly secured to the side walls Band '61 respectively by any suitable means such as bolting,,welding, etc. ,A set .collar 62 secures the shaft 48 withinthe bearing 60. Mounted upon the shaft '48adjacent opposite endsr-thereof are a pair of collars"63 "having: integral U- shaped flanges 64 having inwardly-extending wings -65. Ribs'66 on opposite'sides of the collar 63 areformed integrally withthe collar and with; theIfiange 6 tlan d provide a-strengthening member therefor. The c llar-&3 may be-pinne'd orkeyed or otherwise secured'to the shaft 48 so that they are rotatably driven th reby.

-'A pair of u-shaped channels 67 extend between the fianges -64'mounted;adjacent opposite ends ofQthe shaft 48 and'receive the wings 65'therein. The channels '67 are rigidly secured "to the wings 65 by any suitable means such as'by-welding or cap screws, etc. I A plurality of spaced pairs of arcuate primary or liftingj'fingersfill having an-integral web or rib -69 equipped with an in-.

tegral L shapedextension 70 are'mounte d' upon the channels=-67--by capscrews'71(shown bestin Fig. 2). The channels --67 are equipped with apertures adapted. torreceive -the-cap screws '71: The' fingers maybe rnade from any suitable material such as metal or ,certain plastics, as v for example, :Bakelite: Preferably the arcuate surface of the-fingers 'andihe' leading edge the 1 ribs, are machined or polished, etc.,'to provide a srnooth engaging sutf acefor the bottles. The trailingedge of' fiuget. 681s relieved by aismall distance such as 4*. of an inch from vaijgruet.ra

4 of the center of shaft 48 to prevent the fingers from picking up tne'rsnowing bottle saute iiifeed 'c'ohyeyof'and which otherwise would happen due to back pressure from accumulating bottles. The relief (see in Fig. 2) permits the following bottle to tilt slightly toward the finger and away from the adjacent bottle on the conveyor.

A plurality of brackets or=spacers 72 each comprising a pairof matingsections welded or otherwise joined .and having spread legs 73 equipped with ears "74 are mounted upon a plate 75.- The cars 74 rnay benvelded or riveted, etc., to the plate 75. The plate 7-5 is in turn-supported upon the horizontal-flange of an L shapedchannel' 76 and is fastened thereto by bolts etc A shim-7 ,7- ,of required thickness is interposed between the horizontal flange of the L-shaped channel 76 and a pair of inwardlyextending bars 78, one of which is rigidly secured to the side wall 61 while the other is rigidly secured to the side wall 13. The channel and shim .may be bolted, etc,,-. to the bars v78. The spaced'b'rackets .'72 provide..l between them a plurality ofv generally V,-shape'd ,bott leguidesiw These'b'rackets are arcuate and terminatefat' ,their. upper' ordischarge end, which is secured tothe .L-shapedfchannel' 76 in a generally,horizontalplane, adjacent the bottle carrier 10. The opposite'ends ofthe brackets 72, turn downwardly and terminate in a generally vertical plane at ai point below and spaced laterally of ,the upper or discharge ends ,ofthe bottle guides. :Thelowerends of the bottle guides '79 communicate withlandare ia'djacentlhe continuous conveyor 59. ',The lowerends of'theibrackets 72 are rigidly secured to a lower platefiflby welding, etc., while the plate 80 isbolted to the generally verticaliflange of anj L-shaped channel 81. The channel 81 spaced from a pair of stubbars 82 by a shim 83. Theflchannel 81 tnaybe fastened to the bars 82 in any suitable manner such as by bolts, etc. H One of the bars 82 is rigidly attached to the side wall 61.'while the other is rigidly secured to theside wall 13.

IThe spaced brackets 72 are spaced apart and provide atthe' base of the V-shaped bottle guides '79 an elongated slot 84. The slots 84 are adapted to receive 'therib or web.69 of the lifting fingers '68. 'It willbe noted' that the arcuate surface of the liftingfin'gers'68lis wider than the ribs .69 and to permit entry of the ribs. intothe slots. 84

the brackets 72 are equipped with laterally-extending slots or recesses 85 adjacent the lower ends. and slots F86 adjacent'the upper ends thereof. The recesses 85 and'86 communicate with the slots 84. The recesses 85 and 86 are sufficiently wide to permitthe fingers to enter the guides through the lower recesses and to leave thejgui'des throughfthe upperrecessesg While within: the' chann els' 79, the'fingers move freely in the enlarged uppe r portions thereof. Bottles are moved into'the bottle guides or. V-

shaped channels 79 over a dead plate 87 by the continuous conveyor 59. One of the primary or lifting fingersf6 8 jengages a bottle in the ,guide and moves ititherethroughand into a position within the discharge end o'f the guide. At this po int, the lifting finger, 68 becomes disengaged from the bottle, and the secondary or pusher fingers88 and89 'nudge the bottle completely into the bottle-receiving pockets 11 while the bottle carrier continuesjto travel.

A plurality of pairs of pusher fingers :88 and 8 9 are respectivelysecurely fastened to elongated bars 90. and 91by'cap screws-92 and 93. The'pairs of pusher fingers are-mounted in spaced-apart relationeupon the bars and'91 and each pair isalignedwith a pair of 'lifting fingers'68.- For'each bottle guide"79 there are a'pairfof lifting fingers-68 and also a pair of pusher fingers 8,8 and 89. The elongated bars'90 and1 91'ar e mounted adjacent opposite edges of a'support bar 94. Ih e suppor't bar 94 is -equipped with a' plurality of 'slots39 5jthat-are adapted o r i re t 's en i f e r SQQ S 6 ex end n -t r u the bars "90 and 9.1 .and' providing a means ,for securely fastening the elongated barstoglthe s upport barmember V 94.v .The slotsfislare preferably accurately milled-to provide a tw o position. adjustment for, the elongatecl;- harst 90 grease-e and 91 and the pusher fingers attached thereto. Thus, when the bars 90 and 91 are moved inwardly so that the cap screws abut the inner edge of the slots 95, the pusher fingers 88 and 89 are positioned to engage long bottles moving through the bottle guides, and when the elongated bars 90 and 91 are positioned so that the cap screws abut the outer edge of the recesses or slots 95 (as illustrated in Fig. 4), the pusher fingers are adjusted for engagement with bottles of relatively short height. Of course, any intermediate position may be provided, if this is desired. Preferably, a pair of slots 95 are provided at each end of the elongated bars 90 and 91. However, if very wide bottle feed mechanisms are employed such as, for example, when 24 or 32 parallel bottle infeeds are provided, it may be desirable to provide slots 95 midway between the ends of the bars 90 and 91. e

The support bar 94 terminates at each end in an integral flange 97 and 98. The flanges 97 and 98 are preferably circular and abut respectively flanges 99 and 100 formed integrally with collars 101 and 102. The collar 101 is locked to the shaft 52 by a pin 103 to prevent axial or rotational movement with respect thereto. The collar 102 is in turn locked upon a stub shaft 104 by a pin 105. The shaft 104 extends through the side wall 61 and is rotatably mounted in a bearing 106 secured to the side wall 61 by any well known means, and a collar 107 mounted upon the shaft 104 locks the shaft axially with respect to the bearing 106.

The flange 97 is secured to the flange 99 by cap screws 108, while the flange 98 is secured to the flange 100 ina similar manner by cap screws 109. The engaging flanges 97-99 and 98-100 are constructed as a male and female joint to give perfect alignment and rigidity to the fully assembled member 94, 97-99, 98-100, 52 and 104. Referring to Fig. 2, it can be seen that the flange 98 is provided with arcuate slots 110 through which the cap screws 109 extend. The flange 97 is provided with a similar arcuate slot arrangement. The purpose of the arcuate slots is to permit the flanges 97 and 98 to be rotated through a small arcuate distance with respect to the flanges 99 and 100 that are locked to the shafts 52 and 104. Thus, by rotating the flanges 97 and 98, the pusher fingers 88 and 89 may be timed to engage and nudge a bottle 111 into the bottle-receiving pocket 11 while not interfering with the movement of another bottle being moved through the bottle guide by the lifting fingers 68. The pusher fingers 88 and 89 are rotated twice by the previously described gear train for each rotation of the lifting fingers 68. Each bottle being moved into a bottle pocket is engaged by each of the pusher fingers 88 and 89 as the bottle pocket moves from a position of momentary alignment with the discharge end of the bottle guide 79 to a position thereabove. This results in smooth, easy movement of the bottle into the guide and minimizes the possibility of bottle breakage, bottle marring, or scufiing, etc., that usually results in conventional bottle infeeds.

Operation In operation, bottles to be washed or otherwise treated are fed onto the continuous belt or conveyor 59 and are moved thereby over the dead plate 87 and into the bottle guides 79. One of the rotary lifting fingers 68 moves through the recesses 85 and into the elongated slot 84 and engages the bottom of the bottle within the guide and moves it therethrough and into a position at the discharge end of the guide. When the finger 68 moves free from the end of the bottle, the neck and greater portion of the bottle is partially within a bottle-receiving pocket 11 momentarily aligned or slightly below the discharge end of the bottle guide 79. The lifting finger 68 moves downwardly through the recesses 86 and the next lifting finger rotates into a position to engage the next bottle being fed into the bottle guide.

The pusher finger 89 rotates downwardly, engaging the bottle in the discharge end of the guide immediately after finger 68 releases the bottle. This finger moves the bottle still further into the bottle-receiving pocket 11 and then becomes disengaged from the end of the bottle. The other pusher finger 88 then moves into engagement with the end of the same bottle and urges or nudges it completely into the bottle pocket. During this time, the bottle-receiving pocket 11 has moved from the position in which it was generally aligned with the end of the bottle guide to a position thereabove and in which the subsequent bottle pocket is in general alignment with the guide.

It is seen that the pusher fingers 88 and 89 make two complete revolutions for each revolution of the lifting fingers 68 and each of the fingers 88 and 89 engages each of the bottles and moves them into the bottle pockets 11. For this purpose, it is noted that both the pusher fingers 88' and the pusher fingers 89 are mounted on the same side of the support bar 94. In effect, the pusher fingers move upwardly with the bottles and gently urge them into the bottle-receiving pockets without damage to the bottles.

If the timing of the pusher fingers is improper with respect to the lifting fingers 68, the cap screws 108 and 109 are loosened and the flanges 97 and 98 are rotated slightly within the limits permitted by the arcuate slots 110 until the proper positioning is obtained, and the cap screws are then tightened to lock the flanges. it longer or taller bottles are being fed through the apparatus, the pusher fingers 88 and 89 are adjusted to accommodate the taller bottle by loosening the cap screws 96 to permit the elongated bars and 91 to be moved inwardly until the cap screws abut the inner edge of the recesses or slots 95. The cap screws 96 are then tightened and the fingers 88 and 89 are automatically in proper adjustment. The lifting fingers 68 need not be adjusted, since they are universal and will accommodate bottles of all heights. The bottle guides 79 will accommodate bottles of various diameter without adjustment. Therefore, if a bottle of greater height is fed to the machine, the guide 79 will automatically accommodate the bottle even though it may have a larger diameter, and the single adjustment of the pusher fingers 88 and 89 is the only adjustment that need be made. The pusher fingers may, of course, be timed with respect to movement of the carrier as well as with the lifting fingers.

If a broken bottle becomes lodged in a bottle-receiving pocket 11, or for some other reason the apparatus becomes jammed, the balls 27 move out of the cone-shaped recesses 28 and onto the face of the flange 23. The accompanying lateral movement of the flange 25 triggers the microswitch 41 and the motor circuit is deactuated. This is easily accomplished, since all of the moving parts may be driven from a single motor and, as previously described, the bottle infeed mechanism is driven through the sprocket 16.

The continuously moving lifting fingers 68 successively enter the bottle guides 79 and there engage bottles that have been fed into the guides in a generally vertical position by the continuous infeed conveyor 59. The lifting fingers gently urge the bottles through the arcuate guides and into a position at the upper discharge end of the guides in which the bottles are in a generally horizontal plane. At this point the lifting fingers move free of the bottles and the neck of the bottles and body are partially within the pockets 11. The movement of the pusher fingers 88 and 89 against the bottom of the bottles and in combination with the upward movement of the bottle carriers pushes the bottles completely into the pockets: ll. It is noted that the upward movement of the bottle carrier itself is utilized in combination with the pushing action of the fingers 88 and 89 to move the bottles completely within the bottle-receiving pockets.

. It is seen that we have provided a continuous bottle infeed mechanism that permits continuous operation of a bottle infeed conveyor and continuous operation of a 7 bottle carrier that moves-bottles through aconditioning line, etc. Since intermittent operation has been-eliminated, the bottles are gently handled and breakage, dam-- age to the embossed designs and brand names, etc., is mini1nized, with resultant savings in bottle replacement, etc.

While in the foregoing specification we have described a specific embodiment of our invention in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that the details of our invention-may be varied bytthose and at least partially into a pocket, a movably-mounted secondary finger engageable with bottles moved through said guide by the primary finger to push the same'completely into said bottle-receiving pockets while said pockets are moving, said secondary finger being arranged to travel along the path of movement of said pockets to progressively nudge bottles thereinto, and means for moving said primary and secondary fingers.

' 2. In a bottle feed mechanism, a-bottle guide, means for feeding bottles intosaid guide, a bottle carrier equipped with a plurality of bottle-receiving pockets and adapted to move said pockets into a position adjacent the discharge end of said guide, rotary primary fingers selectively engageable with bottles fed into said guide to move the same through said guide and into the discharge end thereof and at least partially into a'pocket, rotary pusher fingers engageable with a bottle in the discharge end of said guide and adapted to push the same into a bottlereceiving pocket While said pocket is moving, andvmeans for moving said primary and pusher fingers in arcuate paths, said secondary fingers being arranged to travel along the path of movement of said pocket to progressively nudge bottles thereinto.

3. In a bottle feed mechanism, a-guide equipped with a longitudinally-extending slot adapted to have lifting fingers travel therethrough, conveyor means'for feeding bottles into said guide, .a bottle carrier'equipped with a plurality of pockets adapted to receive bottles, saidcarrier being mounted adjacent the discharge end of said guide and being adapted to move said pockets past the end of said guide and in general alignment therewith rotary lifting fingers adapted to enter said slot to engage a bottle within said guide and to move it into the discharge end thereof and at least partially-into a pocket, rotary pusher fingers engageable with bottles moved into'the discharge end of said guide and adapted to nudge them completely into said'p'ockets while-said carrier ismoving, and means for revolving said lifting fingersand pusher fingers in arcuate paths generallyalong the path of movement of said carrier-so that the-pusher fingers follow the movement of each pocket inurging bottles thereinto.

4. The structure of claim -3- in which said guide. is arcuate and the discharge end thereof is above andspaced laterally of said conveyor.

5. In a continuous bottle infeed mechanism, an arcuate bottle guide having a discharge end terminating in 'a generally horizontal plane and an infeed .end terminating in a generally vertical plane, means for'feeding bottles into said guide adjacent the infeed end thereof, a con-' tinuously moving-bottle carrier adjacent the discharge end of said guide and being equipped with av plurality of pockets adapted to-receive bottlesfrom said guide,v said carrier being adapted to move each of said pockets successively in substantial alignment with the discharge end of said guide, a pair oflifting fingers mounted for rotary movement and adapted to engage bottles fed into said 8 guide and to move them through said guide and into a generally horizontal plane within the discharge end thereof and at the same time at least partially intosai'd pockets,means for moving said lifting fingers throughan arcuate path, a pair of pusher fingers mounted" for rotary movement adjacent the discharge end of said, guide, said push-er fingers being engageable with bottles at the discharge end of said guide to push them completely into said pockets, and means for moving said I pusher fingers through an arcuate path and in synchronisrn with the movement of said carrier said pusherfingers being operative to follow along the path of travel of said carrier in pushing a bottle into a pocket.

6. 'The structure of claim 5 in which said pusher fingers are moved through one complete revolution while said carrier is moving apocket having a bottle therein up wardly from a position of alignment with the discharge end of said guide to bring a subsequent pocket into alignment-With'the discharge end of said guide, whereby each of said pusher fingers engages each bottle to move it into a position completely within the pocket.

'7. In-a bottle infeed mechanism, the combination with 1 a continuous bottle infeed conveyor and a continuously traveling bottle carrier spaced therefrom and equipped with a plurality of pockets adapted to receive bottles, of a frame, an arcuate bottle guide terminating at the dis charge end thereof in a generally horizontal plane adjacent said bottle carrier and at the infeed end thereof in agenerally vertical plane adjacent said infeed eonveyor, said bottle guide being equipped with a longitudi nally-extending slot therethrough adapted to receive'lifting fingers, spaced apart lifting fingers mounted for rotary movement within said frame and in substantial alignment with said slot, said fingers being adapted to successively enter said slot and engage bottles within said guide to move the same to the discharge end thereof iand at least partially into a pocket, pusher'fingers being :mounted'within said frame for rotary movement adjacent'the discharge end of said guide, said pusher fingers-being adapted to engage a bottle in the discharge end of'msaid guide for nudging it completely into one of said pockets While the pocket is moving, and means for moving said pusher fingers and said lifting fingers through. arcuate :paths, said means being timed with the movement of said carrier so that each of said pusherfingers engages the same bottle to move it completely into 'one-of thepockets, and each pusher finger being operatively arrangedto rotate through an arc along'the path of movement of said pockets to progressivelyiurge bottles into the pockets.

8. The structure of 'claim 7 in which said pusher fingers are adju'stably mounted so that they are selectively movable: through. arcuate paths of greater or lesser radius. 9.:A continuous bottle feed mechanism for bottle washerstand the like, comprising a continuous conveyor for feeding bottles to said mechanism, a generally V- shaped areuate guide provided with a longitudinally-extending slot at the base of the V, one end of said guide beingpositionedadjacent said conveyor and adapted'to receive=bottles therefrom while the discharge'end ofsaid guide terminates at a point above and spaced laterally from said conveyon'a bottle carrier adjacent the discharge-send of said guide and being equipped with a 'plu-' rality of pockets adapted to receive bottles from said guide, imeans for'continuously moving said carrier,: a pair of spaced apart lifting fingers mounted for rotary movement and being adapted to successively enter said slot and engage a-bottle in said guide and move'it tothe discharge end thereof, a pair of spacedapart Pusher I fingers mounted for rotary movement adjacent the discharge end of said guide and being adapted to engage a'bottle therein and push it into one of said pockets, said pusher fingers being operative to follow along the path of travel of said carrier in pushing a bottle into a pocket, and means "for moving said pusher fingers and said liftingfingers'through arcuate paths.

10. In a structure of the character described, a frame, an arcuate guide mounted in said frame and having a discharge end and an infeed end and having also a longitudinally-extending slot therethrough, the discharge end of said guide being mounted in a generally horizontal plane above and laterally of said infeed end, a continuous conveyor adapted to feed bottles into said guide in a generally upright position, a carrier mounted adjacent the discharge end of said guide and in substantial alignment therewith and having a plurality of spaced pockets adapted to have bottles moved thereinto from said guide, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and being provided with radial lifting fingers, means for rotating said shaft whereby said fingers are moved through an arcuate path, said fingers being adapted to successively enter said slot and engage bottles in said guide and move them through the guide and into a horizontal position in the discharge end thereof, a support member rotatably mounted in said frame adjacent the discharge end of said guide, a pair of spaced pusher fingers carried by said support, and means for rotating said support whereby said pusher fingers are moved through an arcuate path, each of said pusher fingers engaging a bottle in the discharge end of said guide to push it into one of said pockets and being operative to follow along the path of travel of said carrier in pushing bottles into said pockets.

11. In a bottle infeed mechanism, a frame, an arcuate bottle guide, means for feeding bottles into said guide, a continuously moving bottle carrier mounted adjacent an end of said guide and equipped with a plurality of pockets adapted to receive bottles, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and being provided with radial lifting fingers, means for rotating said shaft whereby said fingers are moved through an arcuate path, said fingers being adapted to successively engage bottles fed into said guide and move them therethrough and into the end of said guide adjacent said carrier, a support member rotatably mounted in said frame-adjacent the guide and carrier, a pair of spaced'pusher fingers carried by said support, and means for rotating said support continuously whereby said pusher fingers are in continuous rotary motion and are moved through an arcuate path, each of said pusher fingers successively engaging a bottle in the end of said guide adjacent the carrier to nudge the bottle into one of said pockets and each pusher finger being operatively arranged to rotate through an are along the path of movement of said pockets to progressively urge bottles into the pockets.

12. In a bottle infeed mechanism, an arcuate guide terminating in a discharge end lying in a generally horizontal plane and mounted adjacent a continuously moving bottle carrier equipped with a plurality of bottlereceiving pockets and also terminating in an infeed end disposed in a generally vertical plane and mounted adjacent a continuous infeed conveyor for receiving bottles therefrom, said guide being provided with a longitudinally-extending slot, a frame, a pair of lifting fingers mounted for rotary movement within said frame and in alignment with said slot, means for imparting rotary movement to said fingers whereby said fingers enter said guide through the slot and move a bottle to the discharge end of said guide, a pair of pusher fingers mounted for rotary movement within said frame adjacent the discharge end of said guide, and means for imparting continuous rotary movement to said pusher fingers in timed relation with the movement of said lifting fingers and width said bottle carrier, said pusher fingers engaging a bottle at the discharge end of said guide to push the bottle into a continuously moving bottle pocket while following along the path of movement of that pocket to progressively urge a bottle thereinto. V

13. In bottle feeder apparatus, the combination with a continuously traveling bottle carrier chain equipped with a plurality of pockets adapted to receive bottles and a continuous conveyor spaced therefrom and adapted to feed bottles to said apparatus, of a bottle guide interposed between said conveyor and carrier, spaced-apart rotary lifting fingers for moving bottles from said conveyor and through said guide and partially into pockets provided by the carrier, spaced-apart rotary pusher fingers for moving bottles completely into said pockets, and driving means for said lifting fingers, pusher fingers and conveyor motivated by a single source, said source being said carrier chain so that said fingers are in continuous rotary motion, whereby the movement of said fingers and conveyor is synchronized with the movement of said carrier, said pusher fingers being arranged and oriented for following along the path of movement of said pockets for progressively urging bottles thereinto while said pockets are moving.

14. In bottle feeder apparatus, a continuous conveyor, a bottle guide terminating at one end adjacent said conveyor and being adapted to receive bottles therefrom, a continuously moving carrier chain equipped with a plurality of bottle-receiving pockets and being adapted to move said pockets past the other end of said guide and in relatively close proximity thereto, rotary driven primary fingers for moving bottles through said guide and partially into pockets, pusher fingers engageable with bottles to complete the movement thereof into the pockets, and means for driving said fingers and conveyor in synchronous timed relation with said pockets, said pusher fingers being arranged and oriented for following along the path of movement of said pockets for progressively urging bottles thereinto while said pockets are moving.

15. In feed apparatus of the character described, a bottle carrier equipped with a plurality of bottle receiving pockets and being adapted to be continuously driven, a bottle guide provided with a discharge end adjacent said carrier and in alignment with said pockets at one position of their movement, means for moving bottles through said guide and into the discharge end thereof, and at least one pusher finger mounted adjacent the discharge end of said guide for movement along the path of travel of said carrier for engaging bottles and moving the same progressively into said pockets while the pockets are moving.

16. In feed apparatus of the character described, a bottle carrier equipped with a plurality of bottle receiving pockets and being adapted to be continuously driven, a bottle guide provided with a discharge end adjacent said carrier and in alignment with said pockets at one position of their movement whereby bottles can be moved from the discharge end of the guide and into the pockets aligned therewith, means for moving bottles through said guide and into the discharge end thereof, and a pair of.

pusher fingers mounted for movement along the path of travel along said carrier and adjacent the discharge end of said guide for engaging bottles therein and moving the same progressively into said pockets while the pockets are moving, the movement of said pusher fingers being timed with respect to the movement of said carrier so that each pusher finger engages each bottle in the movement thereof into a pocket.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said pusher fingers are mounted for rotary movement through arcs generally along the path of travel of said carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,873,845 Meyer Aug. 23, 1932 2,128,192 Risser Aug. 23, 1938 2,614,678 Ladewig Oct. 21, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 117,539 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1926 

